9/4/23, 10:37 PM [EDIT] Finding Refractive Index Using Travelling Microscope For Glass Slab

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To Determine Refractive Index of a Glass Slab Using a

Travelling Microscope

A Travelling microscope is a compound microscope that is fitted on a vertical scale. It carries a vernier
scale along the main scale and can be moved upward or downward. Below is an experiment to
determine refractive index of a glass slab using a travelling microscope.

Aim
To determine the refractive index of a glass slab using a travelling microscope.

Materials Required
1. 3 glass slabs of different thicknesses but the same material

2. A travelling microscope

3. Lycopodium powder

Theory
The principle behind glass slab

When a glass slab is placed on a horizontal surface, and its bottom surface is viewed from the top, it
appears to be elevated due to refraction. The apparent thickness of the slab is determined by the
distance between the apparent bottom and the top of the glass slab. The refractive index with respect
to the medium and air is given as:
real thickness of the slab
n =
apparent thickness of the slab

Diagram

Read More: Refractive Index (https://byjus.com/physics/refractive-index/)

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9/4/23, 10:37 PM [EDIT] Finding Refractive Index Using Travelling Microscope For Glass Slab

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Procedure
Adjustment of a travelling microscope

1. To get sufficient light, place the travelling microscope (M) near the window.

2. To make the base of the microscope horizontal, adjust the levelling screw.

3. For clear visibility of the cross wire, adjust the position of the eyepiece.

4. For the vertical scale of the microscope, determine the vernier constant.

5. Mark point P on the microscope’s base using black ink.

6. To avoid the parallax between the cross-wires and the mark P, make the microscope vertical and
focus on P.

7. Let R1 be the vernier scale and main scale reading on the vertical scale.

8. Place the glass slab with the least thickness over the mark P.

9. Let P1 be the image of the cross mark. Move the microscope upwards and focus on P1.

10. For reading, R2 on the vertical scale repeat step 7.

11. Sprinkle a few particles of lycopodium powder on the slab’s surface.

12. To focus the particle near S, raise the microscope further upward.

13. For reading, R3 on the verticle scale repeat step 7.

14. Repeat the above steps for different thickness glass slabs.

15. Record the observations.

Observations and Calculations

Vernier constant for the vertical scale of microscope = ……..cm

Table for microscope readings

Sl. Reading on a vertical scale when a microscope is Real Apparent Refractive

no focused on thickness (R3 thickness index
– R1) in cm
R3−R1
n =
(R3 – R2) R3−R2

Cross mark Cross mark Lycopodium

in cm
without slab R1 with slab R2 in powder R3 in
in cm cm cm

1.

2.

3.

Mean,
n1+n2+n3
n =
3

Result
The ratio
R3−R1

R3−R2

is constant and gives the refractive index of the glass slab.

Precautions
1. The parallax in a microscope should be removed properly.

2. To avoid backlash error, the microscope should be moved upward.

Sources Of Error
1. The scale used in the microscope might not be calibrated properly.

2. The lycopodium powder layer on the glass slab might be thick.

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